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“Living on the streets got pretty depressing, especially at this time of year. But it’s a way to escape your problems and issues.”

Most people ignored them on the streets, but a handful – particularly on Friday and Saturday nights – were threatening. “They look at you like you are scum,” Lee says.

'I used to sleep in a car until Eddie gave me a home'

Caroline Mulliner, who lives in a mobile home on the farm of Edwin Daniel at St Giles (Image: Keith Rossiter)

Caroline Mulliner, 53, who is from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, has lived in the Westcountry for 25 years, and on Edwin Daniel’s farm for about 12 years.

She lived in the condemned flat until three years ago, and has been in one of Mr Daniel’s mobile homes ever since.

She suffers from bipolar disorder. “I was married for 25 years but my children grew up and my marriage broke down. I just walked out.”

For a time she slept in her car. But she once worked on a nearby farm and knew of Mr Daniel. “I have tried to go back into town a few times but just couldn’t cope with town life,” she says.

Caroline Mulliner used to live in her car (Image: Keith Rossiter)

“If it wasn’t for Eddie giving me a home, I don’t know what would have happened to me.”

Her three children are all married and she sees them and her grandchildren regularly.

“I’ve seen a lot of people come and go here. Some better themselves, and some can’t. But Eddie does try really hard to help these people. Not ‘these people’ – me as well,” she adds hastily. “Everybody needs a chance.” She defends the flat that was home for so long.

“Even if it isn’t ideal, it’s better than living on the streets.”

She adds: “Eddie brings people out from Plymouth, but quite a number can’t cope with the countryside. They do rely on him a lot.”

Janet Williams, environmental health & community safety manager at Torridge District Council, said later: "In 2014 prohibition notices were served on flat 1 and flat 2 Higher Fernhill Farm. These were issued as a result of independent reports commissioned by the council finding that, while the units were in a reasonable state of repair, they were affected by a number of serious category 1 hazards as defined under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.

The units also failed to comply with building regulations. Under such circumstances the council has no discretion and has a statutory duty to act where category 1 hazards are identified. The property in which the flats are located is also a listed building, and consent had not been obtained for conversion. Although under the process Mr Daniel could have contested the prohibition notices he chose not to do so.

Following some work carried out on one of the flats one of the prohibition notices was lifted in February 2016. Ongoing correspondence with Mr Daniel has made it clear that the prohibition notice on flat 1 will not be lifted until the works to remove the category 1 hazards are completed. The council have also offered to provide help and advice on any schemes being considered.

"While we can appreciate Mr Daniel’s dissatisfaction that occupation of the flat continues to be prevented by the notice, the notice was correctly issued and the relevance and need for the notice is supported by current legislation. All of these issues were also reviewed through the Councils complaints process which upheld these findings.

"Mr Daniel was also informed in 2016 that he also has the option to refer his case to the independent Local Government Ombudsman but has so far not chosen to exercise this option."

This article has been amended to include a response from Torridge District Council, which was unable to comment last week.